MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Grey River Argus, 17 September 1932, Page 8

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

MAINTENANCE CASE. At a sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth yesterday, before Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., William Taylor, who was arrested on warrant at Tuakau, Auckland, was charged that, being the husband of Nona Philemina Taylor, he did intend to fail to provide for the maintenance of his wife and infant child, wherefore his wife asked for separation, guardianship, and maintenance orders. Mr W. P. McCarthy, for complainant, said the parties were married on September 29th, 1929. The wife entered hospital in February, 1930, and while she was seriously ill, defendant wrote to her saying that he was going away, “as they could never live together.’’ This had had a serious effect on the wife. Defendant had left her, to disappear, and it was only recently that he had been arrested on warrant in Auckland. The father of complainant was a roadman working at Otira, for a small wage, and he had been helping to support his daughter, who obtained work whenever possible. Mr McCarthy strongly objected to the manner in which defendant had cleared out, leaving his wife in the hospital and making no attempt to maintain her. Hes had never written to her, and had attempted nothing towards her support. Separation and maintenance orders were asked for, and also a surety bond. Defendant had relatives in Ahaura, and while a, great amount would not be asked for surety, counsel suggested that a bond of £5O should be entered into. In reply to the Magistrate as to what he could offer to do, defendant said he was doing his best, but could not do much these days. It all depended on how much work he got. He was not opposing the application. He could only get relief work. He had registered on the dole and had been employed by the Raglan County Council, but the work finished the day after he was arrested. He had nothing in view. He had relatives at Ahaura who were sawmilling, and he supposed he could obtain a £5O bond from them. The Magistrate made an order for separation, committing the custody of the child to complainant. Defendant was also ordered to pay to the Clerk of the Court at Greymouth, towards the maintenance of complainant, the sum of £1 per week, iand the sum of 10/- per week towards the maintenance of the child, in fortnightly payments, the first payment to be made on September 30. Defendant was also ordered to pay £3/3/-, the costs of complainant, and to enter into a bond himself of £5O, and one surety of £5O for the carrying out of the order.